Multiple channel decoding device for TV systems

ABSTRACT

A decoding device for use in television systems having coded channels includes a tap and decoding blocks arranged in parallel for simultaneously decoding a plurality of channels. The decoding device may include a remote control to enable the remote control of the decoding blocks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a decoding device in TV-systems, andmore particularly to TV-systems of the kind where at least some of thechannels are so called pay-TV-channels.

As far as it is known all presently existing decoders for TV-systems ofthe above-mentioned kind require that the respective subscriber firstadjusts his TV-apparatus to a desired channel, and then chooses achannel on his decoder. In most cases this is performed by means ofremote controller, which is specially designed for this purpose. Theresult is that the subscriber may have to handle two to three remotecontrollers, i.e., one remote controller for the decoder, one remotecontroller for the TV-apparatus and one remote controller for a videoset. In case the subscriber also has a CD-player with a remotecontroller he may feel himself somewhat confused.

Another disadvantage with the decoders as hietherto known for TV-systemsof the kind as mentioned above is that they are normally comparativelybulky and have to be placed either on the TV-apparatus or underneath thesame, or, of course, somewhere else. Sometimes, they are estethicallyless attractive, and their outer appearance often breaks with the outerappearance of the TV-apparatus.

Still another disadvantage of the decoders as hietherto known forTV-systems of the kind as mentioned in the above is that they donormally not permit watching the program on one channel whilesimultaneously recording the program on a different channel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved decoderfor TV-systems of the kind where at least some of the channels are socalled pay-TV-channels, by means of which the above mentioned drawbacksare remedied.

To the just mentioned end the decoder according to the present inventionis characterized essentially in that decoder forms a self-containedunit, which is provided with at least one connection means and at leastone tap means between which are coupled a plurality of decoding blockswhich are disposed parallel to each other and are adapted to decodeseveral channels simultaneously, wherein each block is adapted toconvert up "its" channel to a UHF-channel of its own, and wherein eachself-contained decoding unit comprises a data channel and a controllogic for remote control of the individual decoding blocks from acentral administrative control unit.

According to the invention it is preferred that the self-containeddecoding unit also comprises a by-pass for uncoded signals.

Further, it is preferred that the self-contained decoding unit isprovided with connecting means and tap means for connection to anordinary central radio antenna.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be disclosed in more details below with reference hadto the accompanying drawing, which diagramatically illustrates oneembodiment of a decoder according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The decoder shown in the drawing and generally denoted 10, is aself-contained unit, which is provided with connecting means 11, notshown in detail, for connection to an existing, ordinary antenna tap,not shown, i.e. a cable-TV-tap (CATV). The self-contained decoder unit10 is also provided with a tap means 12, not shown in detail, to whichthe antenna cable of the subscriber's TV-apparatus may be connected.

In the example shown the self-contained decoder unit 10 is furtherprovided with a connecting means 13 for connection to an ordinarycentral radio antenna tap, not shown, and it is also provided with a tapmeans 14, not shown in detail, to which an ordinary radio antenna cablemay be connected. The connecting means 13 and the tap means 14 form, perse, no part of the present invention for which reason they will not bedisclosed in detail here. In fact, it is not even necessary for theinvention that the decoder is provided with the connecting means and thetap means, respectively, for the radio antenna connection. It should bementioned that the connecting means and the tap means, respectively, forthe radio antenna connection, if present at all, may serve to stabilizethe decoder unit 10 plainly mechanically, when it has been put in place.

The decoder unit comprises a by-pass, generally denoted 15, between theconnecting means 11 and the tap means 12 to let through uncoded signals.

Further, the decoder unit 10 comprises a plurality of branches 16, 17,18 between the connecting means 11 and the tap means 12 to take care ofcoded signals, whereby each one of the branches 16, 17, 18 comprises adecoder block, such as the decoder block 19, for instance. These decoderblocks are disposed parallel to each other and are adapted to decode therespective channels or branches simultaneously. Each block 19 is adaptedto convert up "its" channel to a UHF-channel, which permits the channelchoice to take place directly on the TV-apparatus, and, alternatively,on a further TV-apparatus or a video.

The number of decoder blocks may be choosen according to the desire ofeach particular cable operator, and is conveniently 4-8, for instance.The frequency range of each decoder block is, to a certain extent,dependent on the particular coding system, but a comparatively fullcovering range is, e.g., 130 MHz-550 MHz.

Each block is adapted to be remote controlled from an existingadministrative center within the cable net, via a data channel 20 andthrough a control logic 21, but may optionally not be controlled by thesubscriber.

Each decoder block 19 is individually adjustable to any one of theexisting pay channels. Thus, the subscriber needs only to advise thecable operator of which channels he desires, and will have thesecentrally picked from the administrative center.

Further, for those operators who so desire, it is also possible toobtain a traditional decoder function with remote control, which thenoperates on one of the decoder blocks.

It should be mentioned that the connection means 11, 13 and the tapmeans 12, 14, respectively, of course may be omitted at installation ofthe decoder in houses under production, in which case the connection instead takes place to the ordinary cables for cable-TV and the ordinaryantenna taps, respectively, which should have been installed in theotherwise ordinary way.

We claim:
 1. A decoding device for use in television systems,comprising:first connection means for connecting to a television tap;first tap means for connecting to an antenna cable of a television; aplurality of decoding blocks arranged in parallel and being connected tothe first connection means and the first tap means, the decoding blocksbeing adapted to simultaneously decode a plurality of coded televisionchannels and to send an output signal to the first tap means; and a datachannel and a control logic connected to the plurality of decodingblocks to enable each decoding block to be remotely controlled.
 2. Thedecoder device of claim 1, further comprising a by-pass first connectedto the connection means and the first tap means for uncoded televisionsignals.
 3. The decoder device of claim 2, further comprising secondconnection means and second tap means for connection to a radio antenna.4. The decoder device of claim 1, further comprising connecting meansand tap means for connection to a radio antenna.
 5. The decoding deviceof claim 1, wherein each individual decoding block is capable ofdecoding a plurality of coded television channels.
 6. The decodingdevice of claim 1, wherein the television tap is a cable television tap.7. A self-contained decoding device for use in cable television systems,comprising:connection means for connecting to a cable television tap;tap means for connecting to an antenna cable of a television; a by-passconnected to the connection means and the tap means for uncoded signals;a plurality of decoding blocks arranged in parallel and being connectedto the connection means and the tap means, each individual decodingblock being capable of converting a plurality of coded televisionchannels to UHF channels and the plurality of decoding blocks beingadapted to simultaneously convert a plurality of coded televisionchannels to UHF channels; and means connected to the plurality ofdecoding blocks for enabling each decoding block to be remotelycontrolled.
 8. A decoding device for use in television systems,comprising:connection means for connecting to a television tap; tapmeans for connecting to an antenna cable of a television; a by-passconnected to the connection means and the tap means for uncoded signals;and a plurality of decoding blocks arranged in parallel and beingconnected to the connection means and the tap means, the decoding blocksbeing adapted to simultaneously decode a plurality of televisionchannels and to send an output signal to the tap means.
 9. The decodingdevice of claim 8, wherein each individual decoding block is capable ofdecoding a plurality of coded television channels.
 10. The decodingdevice of claim 9, wherein the television tap is a cable television tapand the coded channels are pay channels.
 11. The decoding device ofclaim 10, further comprising means connected to the plurality ofdecoding blocks to enable each decoding block to be remotely controlled.12. The decoding device of claim 11, wherein each decoding blockconverts coded television channels to UHF channels.